NOW in it's sixth year, Northern Ireland Opera's new season includes two of the most celebrated works in the operatic repertoire alongside two Irish premieres.
The season kicks off with the annual Festival of Voice in the coastal village of Glenarm in County Antrim, from August 26 to 28.
This year’s festival, in partnership with BBC Radio 3, includes recitals from Belfast soprano Aoife Miskelly and Warrenpoint baritone Aaron O’Hare.
An obvious highlight of the 2016/17 season is a new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at Belfast’s Grand Opera House on November 18 and 19, featuring an international and Irish cast and accompanied by the Northern Ireland Opera (NIO) chorus and the Ulster Orchestra.
In January, NIO will present the Irish première of Thomas Adès’ modern opera Powder Her Face. A worldwide hit since it was first performed, Powder Her Face is an acerbic black comedy recounting the sordid affairs and scandalous divorce of the infamous Margaret, Duchess of Argyll.
In April, they will present a very special concert performance of Puccini’s iconic opera La bohème as part of the Ulster Orchestra's 50th anniversary celebrations.
Also featuring the Belfast Philharmonic Choir, this performance will include a cast of soloists drawn from across Northern Ireland and Ireland, including Giselle Allen.
Following the success of NIO and Irish Youth Opera’s Agrippina (winner of the Best Production Award at the Tiger Dublin Fringe 2015), NIO continues their partnership with the Irish Chamber Orchestra to present the Irish première of Handel’s masterpiece Radamisto, a story of lust, political intrigue, and the fight for power. This production will tour Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Limerick in May 2017.
"We are delighted to maintain our collaboration's with arts organisations both north and south of the border to bring audiences across Ireland opera productions of the highest quality, showcasing the best in national and international talent, whilst maintaining our remit of affording real opportunities to aspiring young Irish singers," commented Oliver Mears, artistic director with NIO.
:: For further information visit NIopera.com.
